INTRODUCTION: Hemifacial spasm (HFS) is characterized by the involuntary tonic-clonic movement of the muscles of the hemiface. It is usually treated with botulinum toxin (BTX). The classically described unilateral application of BTX results in an asymmetry similar to facial paralysis.
Hemifacial spasm is a nervous system condition in which the muscles on one side of the face twitch. The cause of hemifacial spasm is most often a blood vessel touching or pulsing against a facial nerve. A facial nerve injury or a tumor also can cause it.
Although a rare movement disorder, physicians must be aware of HFS as this condition can be misinterpreted with several other facial movement disorders, such as blepharospasm, motor tics, and facial myokymia. Patients often present to primary care providers and are referred to otolaryngologists or neurologists.
Hemifacial spasm is caused most commonly by compression of the facial nerve by a blood vessel at the brainstem. Hemifacial spasm usually begins during the fourth or fifth decade of life. Stress, anxiety, and fatigue are common triggers of these spasms.
The Chvostek sign is a clinical finding associated with hypocalcemia, or low levels of calcium in the blood. This clinical sign refers to a twitch of the facial muscles that occurs when gently tapping an individual's cheek, in front of the ear.
Other natural and home approaches for managing hemifacial spasm include getting enough sleep, acupuncture, relaxation techniques, massage, facial and neck exercises, physiotherapy, and vitamin supplements. Work closely with your doctors to find the best treatments to manage your specific symptoms.
After facial nerve massage, durable and, at least, partial relief of spasms with a relatively low complication rate was observed in most patients with hemifacial spasm.
Your healthcare provider will conduct a neurological exam to diagnose hemifacial spasm. Neurological exams help evaluate your brain function. You'll likely have a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An MRI uses radio waves and magnets to create images of the inside of your body.
Hemifacial spasm is a neuromuscular disorder that involves frequent contractions or spasms of the muscles on one side of the face. The spasms are involuntary, meaning they happen on their own without trying. The disorder occurs in both men and women, yet it is more common in middle-aged or older women.
Transient facial myokymia can be due to such benign causes as fatigue, excessive caffeine, anxiety, eye muscle fatigue, and mild magnesium deficiency. Stress and dehydration can be associated.
What happens if hemifacial spasm is left untreated?
If left untreated, the symptoms of hemifacial spasm can become more severe and affect more and more facial muscles. Twitches can affect the muscles of the mouth and pull it to one side. Over time, all the muscles on one side of the face can be pulled into a permanent frown.
Anti-epileptic medicines (carbamazepine and topiramate) can be helpful to those experiencing symptoms of hemifacial spasm. These can help quiet never impulses. Benzodiazepine medicines (diazepam and clonzepam), which are sedatives can help relax muscle spams and ease the symptoms of hemifacial spasms.
It's very rare that hemifacial spasm will simply go away on its own. In many cases, it continues to intensify, often becoming worse and involving more and more of the small muscles on the affected side of the face.
The deficiency of vitamin B12 can cause specific skin manifestations, such as hyperpigmentation, vitiligo, angular stomatitis, and hair and nail changes [1].
Yes, anxiety can cause twitching in the face and other parts of the body. Stress and anxiety can trigger the release of certain hormones. As it can affect the nervous system, leading to muscle tension and twitching.
Symptoms of increasingly severe vitamin D deficiency and hypocalcemia will be more classic, i.e., neuromuscular irritability, including paresthesias, muscle cramps, Chvostek's sign (facial muscle twitching with cheek percussion), and seizures.
Hemifacial spasm is most often caused by a blood vessel touching a facial nerve. This occurs when the blood vessel creates excessive pressure on a facial nerve where it exits the brainstem. It can also be a signal that there is a tumor in the area creating the same pressure on the facial nerve.
Facial twitching can be caused by various factors, including: Stress and Anxiety: Emotional stress and anxiety can cause facial twitching, particularly around the eyes. Fatigue: Lack of sleep or excessive tiredness. Caffeine: Consuming too much caffeine can trigger facial twitching.
